Cutting die apparatus

ABSTRACT

Cutting die apparatus incorporating a series of individual stripper-ejector devices spaced along a steel rule-cutting die. These devices are operative both to strip the cut material from the die and eject the cutout portion.

United States Patent 13,559,51s

[72] Inventor Frank S. Domka [56] Refe n Cited 26841 Kean, lnkster,Mich. 48141 UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] Appl. No. 822,356 a Filed May7,1969 2,191,836 2/1940 Stromberg et a1. 83/124X [45] Patented Feb. 2,1971 Primary Examiner-James M. Meister Attorney-Settle, Batchelder &Oltman [54] CUTTING DIE APPARATUS 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

{52] US. Cl 83/ 124, 83/128, 83/140, 83/653 [51] Int. Cl. B261 1/14,ABSTRACT: Cutting die apparatus incorporating a series of B26d 7/18individual stripper-ejector devices spaced along a steel rule- [50]Field of Search 83/ 124, cutting die. These devices are operative bothto strip the cut 128, 140, 653 material from the die and eject thecutout portion.

' PATENTEUFEBZ 1am 3.559.518

INVIjN'IY 1R.

FRANK 5. wMKA.

SETTLE, BATCHELDER 8 OLTMAN.

ATT'YS.

CUTTING DIE APPARATUS cutting die appractical with these large andirregularly shaped dies.

Accordingly, there is contemplated new and different cutting dieapparatus incorporating a rule die with a unique cleaning provision.

Also, contemplated by the invention is cutting apparatus employing arule die and a novel device for providing dual cleaning operations afterthe material is cut.

Another objective is to provide cutting apparatus wherein a series ofindividual stripper-ejector devices are spaced along a rule die andtogether both strip the material from the rule die and eject the cutoutportion.

Also an objective is the provision for a unique stripperejector devicethat utilizes a single component for carrying out both materialstripping and cutout ejection.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description and from the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of cutting apparatus incorporating the principlesof the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of the FIG. 1 cutting apparatus,illustrating the cutting apparatus prior to the material being cut andafter the material has been cut, respectively; and

FIG. 4 is an expanded view of a stripper-ejector device utilized in theFIG. 1 apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and first to FIG. 1, the cuttingapparatus includes a supporting member or platen on which is suitablymounted a steel rule die 12 of continuous configuration shaped to cut anopening 14 in sheetlike material 16 of cork, paper, plastic or the like.By way of exarnple only, the apparatus may be used to make cork enginehead gaskets. The platen 10 as is well understood, is appropriatelyattached to a press (not shown) which urges the dies cutting edge 17through the material 16 which is positioned on the press bed. Thereafterthe platen 10 is withdrawn and the die 12 must be cleaned, i.e., thematerial 16 must be removed from the cutting edge 17 of the die 12 andalso the slug or the cutout portion must be ejected from the die opening14 before the apparatus can continue in operation.

This cleaning is the function of a series of stripper-ejector devices,denoted by the numeral 18 in FIG. 1. These devices 18 are spaced alongthe steel rule die 12 as illustrated. The number of the devices 18 andtheir spacing will be determined by the kind of material, its thickness,the size and shape of the cut, the die type and size, and other factorswell understood by those versed in the art. Each of the units 18 isfitted within a bore 20 in the platen 10 at one of several outwardlyopening notches 21 formed in the die 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), andincludes a housing or sleeve 22, a stripper-ejector 24 and a biasmember, such as the coil spring assigned the numeral 26.

Considering the individual components of the units 18 and first thesleeve 22, reference is made to FIG. 4. The sleeve 22 is provided withan axially extending slot 28. Now referring to FIG. 2, the sleeve 22 isshown positioned within the bore 20, so that the axial slot 28 embracesthe rule die 12, and the part of die 12 within its bore constitutes theonly restriction and prevents the sleeve 22 from rotating in the bore20. Additionally, if needed, the axial extent of the slot 28 can beselected to insure that the bottom of the sleeve 22 as viewed in FIG. 2isdisplaoedfrom the cuttingedge of the cutting die 12 ari adequatedistance to avoid interfering with the material 16. This distance shouldbe equivalent at least to the thickness of the material 16.

The stripper-ejector 24 as depicted in FIG. 4, also has an axialextending slot 30 which likewise embraces the die 12 at the notch 21.The axial extent of this slot 30 is selected so that thestripper-ejector can move downwardly far enough before engaging thebottom of the notch 21 in the die 12 to insure that the material 16 isremoved from the die 12. Of course, the bottom of the notch 21, whenengaged by the bottom of the slot 30, prevents the stripper-ejector 24from dropping out of the sleeve 22. The spring end or upper end, asshown in FIG. 2, of the stripper-ejector member 24 may, if preferred, beannu larly recessed so that an end of the coil spring 26 can sealthereon. The other end of the stripper-ejector 24 has a stripper surface32 and an ejector surface 34 separated by the axially extending slot 30.The stripper surface 30 extends axially a sufficient distance furtherthan the ejector surface 32 to clean the material 16 from the die 12 soit will not be picked up when the die 12 is retracted. This strippingusually must be done relatively quickly. The ejection of the cutoutportion corresponding in shape to the opening 14 can be donesubsequently so that the cutoff portion can be' appropriately discarded,e.g., by gravity when the platen 10 is swung to a position normal to thebed. This, of course, will be deten'nined by the application of theapparatus.

The assembly of the stripper-ejector device 18 is completed by theattachment of a cover 36 to the platen 10. This cover 36 retains thesprings 26 in the position demonstrated in HO. 2 and of course,maintains the assembly in place.

Briefly summarizing the operation of the cutting apparatus, the platen10 is brought into the cutting position shown in FIG. 2 with thematerial 16 to be cut in place, and then urged downwardly to cut thematerial 16 which is appropriately held on a bed (not shown). The coilsprings 26 are compressed during the cutting and now when the platen 10is withdrawn the coil springs 26 urge the stripper-ejector 24downwardly, as seen in FIG. 3, to remove first with the stripper surface32 the material from the cutting edge 17 and then the ejector surface 34moves down and ejects the cutout portion of material to complete thecutting operation. The cutting apparatus is now clean and prepared forthe next operation when the material 16 to be cut is again in positionfor this cutting operation.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that by the novel cuttingapparatus a steel rule die can be used of any type of configuration,large or small, without concern for developing some kind of a materialremoving device of a shape similar to that of the cutout portion.Furthermore, the cutting apparatus is uncomplicated and easilymaintained. The individual stripper-ejector devices 18 are inexpensiveand are not restricted in their use to any particular shape or die.

I claim:

1. A cutting die comprising a supporting member, a rule cutting diehaving a mounting edge connected to the supporting member and anopposite cutting edge, the cutting die having an opening in the mountingedge formed so that the base thereof extends a predetermined distancefrom the cutting edge, a stripper-ejector device for removing materialfrom the die, the device including a housing adapted to be positioned onthe cutting die at the opening, a stripper-ejector member slidablewithin the housing and having an axially extending slot thereinembracing the cutting die at the base of the opening and of a certaindepth so as to restrict the extent of movement of the stripper-ejectormember relative to the die cutting edge, the stripper-ejector memberhaving end ejector surfaces separated by the slot and arranged onopposite sides of the die cutting edge for removing the cut materialfrom the cutting die and a bias element for urging the stripper-ejectormember toward the cutting edge.

2. A cutting die comprising a supporting member, a rule cutting diehaving a mounting edge connected to the supporting member and anopposite cutting edge, the cutting die having a series of notchesopening outwardly from the mounting edge, the notches each having thebase thereof extending to a predetermined distance from the cuttingedge, a series of stripper-ejector devices for removing cut materialfrom the die. one of the devices being associated with each notch. thedevices each including an annular housing having an axially extendingslot therein embracing the cutting die, proximate the base of the notch.a cylindrical stripper-ejector member slidable within the sleeve, thestripper-ejector member having an axially extending slot embracing thecutting die and of a certain depth so as to restrict the extend ofmovement of the stripper-ejector member relative to the die cuttingedge, the stripper-ejector member having end stripper and ejectorsurfaces of different axial extents separated by the slot and arrangedon opposite sides of the die cutting edge so that after the material iscut the surfaces are successively operative to remove the cut materialfrom the cutting die and, a bias element for urging the stripper-ejectormember toward the die cutting edge.

3. A cutting die comprising a supporting member, a continuous rulecutting die having a mounting edge connected to the supporting memberand an opposite cutting edge, the rule cutting die being shaped so as tocut out openings within sheetlike material and having a series ofnotches opening outwardly from the mounting edge. the notches eachhaving the base thereof extending a predetermined distance from thecutting edge and substantially parallel therewith, a series ofstripper-ejector devices for removing cut material from the die, one ofthe devices being associated with each notch, the devices each includingan annular sleevelike housing having an axially extending slot thereinembracing the cutting die at the notch so that the housing has an endthereof on opposite sides of the cutting die and displaced from thecutting edge a distance greater than the thickness of the material to becut, the housing also having an inner diameter less than the width ofthe notch so as to provide a through unrestricted bore, a cylindricalstripper-ejector member slidable within the housing bore, thestripper-ejector member having an axially extending slot embraces thecutting die at the notch and of a certain depth so as to limit theextent of relative movement between the stripper-ejector member and thedie cutting edge, the stripper-ejector member including end stripper andejector surfaces separated by the slot and arranged on opposite sides ofthe die cutting edge and a bias element positioned within the housingfor urging the stripper-ejector member and the die cutting edge, thestripper surface being of a greater axial extent than the ejectorsurface so that the cut material is first removed thereby from thecutting die and then the cutout material is removed from the cutting dieby the ejector surface.

1. A cutting die comprising a supporting member, a rule cutting diehaving a mounting edge connected to the supporting member and anopposite cutting edge, the cutting die having an opening in the mountingedge formed so that the base thEreof extends a predetermined distancefrom the cutting edge, a stripper-ejector device for removing materialfrom the die, the device including a housing adapted to be positioned onthe cutting die at the opening, a stripper-ejector member slidablewithin the housing and having an axially extending slot thereinembracing the cutting die at the base of the opening and of a certaindepth so as to restrict the extent of movement of the stripper-ejectormember relative to the die cutting edge, the stripper-ejector memberhaving end ejector surfaces separated by the slot and arranged onopposite sides of the die cutting edge for removing the cut materialfrom the cutting die and a bias element for urging the stripper-ejectormember toward the cutting edge.
 2. A cutting die comprising a supportingmember, a rule cutting die having a mounting edge connected to thesupporting member and an opposite cutting edge, the cutting die having aseries of notches opening outwardly from the mounting edge, the notcheseach having the base thereof extending to a predetermined distance fromthe cutting edge, a series of stripper-ejector devices for removing cutmaterial from the die, one of the devices being associated with eachnotch, the devices each including an annular housing having an axiallyextending slot therein embracing the cutting die, proximate the base ofthe notch, a cylindrical stripper-ejector member slidable within thesleeve, the stripper-ejector member having an axially extending slotembracing the cutting die and of a certain depth so as to restrict theextend of movement of the stripper-ejector member relative to the diecutting edge, the stripper-ejector member having end stripper andejector surfaces of different axial extents separated by the slot andarranged on opposite sides of the die cutting edge so that after thematerial is cut the surfaces are successively operative to remove thecut material from the cutting die and, a bias element for urging thestripper-ejector member toward the die cutting edge.
 3. A cutting diecomprising a supporting member, a continuous rule cutting die having amounting edge connected to the supporting member and an opposite cuttingedge, the rule cutting die being shaped so as to cut out openings withinsheetlike material and having a series of notches opening outwardly fromthe mounting edge, the notches each having the base thereof extending apredetermined distance from the cutting edge and substantially paralleltherewith, a series of stripper-ejector devices for removing cutmaterial from the die, one of the devices being associated with eachnotch, the devices each including an annular sleevelike housing havingan axially extending slot therein embracing the cutting die at the notchso that the housing has an end thereof on opposite sides of the cuttingdie and displaced from the cutting edge a distance greater than thethickness of the material to be cut, the housing also having an innerdiameter less than the width of the notch so as to provide a throughunrestricted bore, a cylindrical stripper-ejector member slidable withinthe housing bore, the stripper-ejector member having an axiallyextending slot embraces the cutting die at the notch and of a certaindepth so as to limit the extent of relative movement between thestripper-ejector member and the die cutting edge, the stripper-ejectormember including end stripper and ejector surfaces separated by the slotand arranged on opposite sides of the die cutting edge and a biaselement positioned within the housing for urging the stripper-ejectormember and the die cutting edge, the stripper surface being of a greateraxial extent than the ejector surface so that the cut material is firstremoved thereby from the cutting die and then the cutout material isremoved from the cutting die by the ejector surface.